Duplex envelope



C. F. ELMORE DUPLEX ENVELOPE Filed Feb. 15 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 /1 41 REMOVE LETTER 0 FROM SEPARATEQQMPARTMENT #1 LETTER IN HERE &

t I .No FIRSTCLASS MATTER I m THES ENVELOPE a liiuavwofi; a/ia/zigsfiljwwra c. F. ELMQEE May 18 1926.

DUPLEX Filed Feb.

15. .924 2. Sheets-Sheet.

LETTER IN HERE Patented ream- PATENT oF-Ficn,

CHARLES r. nnmonn, or CHICAGO, rLn'INoIs, ,Assr'enon, in iiiESN-E ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro

CHARLES F. ELMORE, JOfiEPH SAWDON',.JOHN'C. REDINGTON, AND JOSEPH A. S.

'EHAn-r, ALL or QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

T nnrnnx nirvnnornf.

. ,1 Application filed February 15; 1924. Serial no. 692,949.

, This invention relatesi to duplex envelopes of that'kind inwhich there is" a relatively small compartment for a letter or mail matter less than first class, ifso desired, anda relatively large compartment for; second or third or fourth class mail matter, or for anything else, envelopes'of this kind being mail matter to be enclose mails. Another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby, regardless of, whether the blank ismade from used in different ways, and the essential characteristic being that they have a plurality of compartments which'can begleft'sealed or.

unsealed as may be desired.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to'provide a novelv and improved constructi on and arrangement of relatively. small and relatively large. compartments, ina unitary structure forming a duplex envelope, whereby either comp'artment'may be sealed or unsealed, and particularly whereby. the relatively small compartment maybe sealed or unsealed, depending u on the class of in the envelope. Another "object is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby the relatively small and the relatively large compartment may be incorporatd in a unitary structure forming a duplex envelope -made from a single paper blank, with the relatively small compart ment on the front or address sideof'the envelope, and entirely within the area of the larger compartment, whereby only one piece of paper is employed in the making of the" envelope, and whereby, there are no flaps on -'the front or address side when the envelope is filled and'ready-tojbe. deposited'in' the one piece of paper or from two or more pieces of paper,=there will be a relatively small compartmenton the face or address side of the envelope, formed in such a man-,

ner that the back or] side that does not bear the address. will'be smooth and have no.

seams thereon, .andwhereby'thereare no flaps exposed on the front or address side when the envelope is filled and ready to be y de osited in the mails, regardless of Whether line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

' envelope can be made.

partments may be integral with the front or,"

face of the envelope and may be exposed to 'view at the front beforethe envelope is filled and. ready to be deposited in the mails.

,Itis also an object to provide certain de-' tails and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general'effi- F ig. 1 is a front or faceiview', or a view showing the address side, of a duplex-envelopeembo'dying the principles of the invention. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2- 2 in Fig. 1. i Fig. 3 isan enlarged horizontal section on Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. '1, showing the envelope modified somewhatfor a dif ferent use.

= Fig. 5 a similar view showing the envelope adapted for a still further diiferent use.

Fig. 6 is a plan View. showing the inside.

surface of vthe single blank from which the Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. 2 showing a different construction of the envelope, illustrating the use offa separate pieceo-f paper to form the smaller compartment. 7 Fig. 8 is a front or outside view of the said separate-piece of paper shown in Fig.

'7 to form the smaller compartment.

.As thus iIlhstrated and referring to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive,-and Figure- 6, the

invention comprises a duplex envelope formed with a rectangular front wall 1, a

rectangular back wall 2, and a rectangular smaller front wall 3, the latter having gum or adhesive at its edges 4; and'5 to fasten" this section 3 to the outer surface of thes'ection 1, thereby to form a smaller compartment 6 on thefront or address side of the larger compartment 7v which is formed between the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 previously mentioned. The section 1 has a gummed flap 8 at one end which is brought around and fastened to the back wall 2, as shown in Figure 3, to seal one end of the larger compartment. The section 1 also has a larger flap-9 which is. gum med at 10 and which has a slot 11 therein. The section 3 has a relatively small flap 12 which is gummed at 13, and it will be seen that this flap- 12 can be inserted through the slot 11, so that ,both this flap and the flap 9 can then be tucked inside of thecompartment 7, when it is desired to leave both compartments unsealed. Under such circumstances an address card can be placed in the compartment 6, showing the address through the slot or opening la in the section 3, this address card amounting to nothing more than the pasting of an address label on the front of the envelope, so that the smaller compartment does not need, to be sealed. Thus the entire envelope can go through the mails for less than first class postage, by simply applying the requisite second or third or fourth class postage to the upper right hand portion of the envelope, as indicated. Under such circumstances the smaller flap 12, being inserted through the slot 11, is held between the flap 9 and the wall 1, the two flaps being tucked inside the end of the larger compartment- 7 after bothcompartments have had placedv therein thet things which they are to receive, such ,as a catalog in the larger compartment and the said address card in the smaller compartment. Y

Now if it be desired to send a letter in the smaller compartment, then the gum or adhesive 13will be moistened and the flap 12 will be pasted or secured to the outer surface of the flap 9, before thelatter is. tucked inside of the end of the envelope,

whereby the smaller compartment' is positirely sealed. The two flaps thus glued or fastened together willbe tucked inside. of the larger compartment 7, if it be desired to leave this larger compartment unsealed.

But, on the other hand, the adhesive 10 can, be moistened andthe flap 9 can be pasted or fastened to the outer surface of the back wall -2 of the envelope, if it be desired to positively seal both compartments. For this purpose the envelope will be printed and used as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, and separate'postage will'be applied to the two compartments as indicated.

Again, if it be desired to send a circular or printed form letter in the smaller compartment, which is something more than merely an address for the entire envelope, then the envelope will .be used by leaving both compartments unsealed, but the front or face of the envelope will be printed as shown in Figure 5, or. in some equivalent manner. i

The entire envelope can be made from a single paper blank, as shown in Figure 6, but on the other hand the smaller compartamnes a tened to the outer surface of the front Wall 1 of the'envelope, in a manner that will be readily understood. The section 15 has a small flap 16 corresponding to the flap 12 previously described, adapted to be used in the same manner. With this method, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the ordinary large envelopes can-be made and each formed with the slot 11, and then these practically ordinary envelopes can be c0nverted into duplex envelopes by simply fastening the separate piece of paper 15in place, just as the section 3 of the blank-is secured in place, thereby to form a pocket or smaller compartment on the front or address side of the envelope. Of course, by the expression front or face of the envelope it will be understood that reference is made to the side of the envelope which bears the address, regardless of the construction of v the envelope, for it is the way in which the envelope is used, in matters of this kind, that determines which is the front or face and which is the back of the envelofpe.

It will be seen that the two loose laps 9 and 12 fold along the same line 17 at one end edge of the envelope, so that both flaps fold backward out of sight when the envelope is viewed from the front or address side. These two loose flaps may be interlocked to accessibly close both compartments, by insertion of. the smaller flap in the slot 11, or the two flaps may be thus interlocked and the larger fiap can be pasted against the back of the envelope if it should be desired to non acce'ssibly seal the larger compartment and leave the smaller compartment accessibly closed. The smaller. compartment is formed adjacent the lower edge of the envelope, so that the upper portion of the larger front wall is left exposed. The envelope has a single address place for both compartments, as by providing the opening 14, in any well known manner, or the en velope can be provided with an address at this point by omitting said opening and by simply writing the address on the seamless front wall of the smaller compartment. When the envelope is made by using two pieces of paper, a suitable back wall 18 with p a seam therein can be employed, in the well known manner, for ordinary envelopes. Thus the two loose flaps are both gummed,

preferably, and are also formed to loosely interlock, so that the duplex envelope which.

in one place or separately, depending upon the character of the enclosures, as shown and or shaded to give it a different shade or and described, the front wall of the smaller compartment may be of a different shade or color from the balance of theenvelope, so

that it will contrast sharply against the front or face of the main envelope, thus calling attention to the duplex character of the envelope. This is especially true, of course, when the smaller compartment is made by pasting a separate section of paper on the front of the main envelope, as in such case this separate section can be made of paper of a different shade or color so that it will contrast in a very pronounced man-. ner with the paper from which the main envelope is made. -When the entire duplex envelope is made from a single blank, then the section thereof forming the front wall of the smaller compartment can be tinted color, on its outer surface, so that it will indicate the duplex character of the envelope,

, and show the necessity of looking in both compartments when the envelope is received. F or some uses, of course, it Wlll not be desirable to have the shade or color of the 31V smaller compartment differentiated from the face or front of the main envelope, as for some purposes the contents of the smaller compartment, as previously stated, Wlll go as second or third or fourth class mail matter, the same as the contents of the larger compartment, and in such case the contents of the smaller compartment will amount to nothing more than an address label. Under such circumstances, of course, itis not important to call attention to the "duplex character of the envelope, when the addressee receives the same through the mails, and for such use the envelope may be plain or of one shade or color everywhere,'and does not need anything to indicate the duplex character thereof. However, for other purposes, as explained, such as the enclosure of a letter .in the smaller compartment, thereby necessitating the positive sealing of the smaller compartment, it becomes important to do something which will call the attention of the addressee to the fact that the envelope has'two compartments, and that the smaller compartment contains something of import-ance, so that this compartment must be unsealed and the contents removed before the envelope is thrown awayr When thus used the different coloring or shading of the front wall of the smaller compartment, to differentiate it from the face or front of the main envelope, serves to outline the smaller compartment on the front or face or address side of the main envelope, within the-area thereof, and serves to immediately attract the attention of the addressee and ensures removal of the contents of the smaller com-I partment, .as well as the contents of the larger compartment, before the envelope is thrown away; I

, What I claim as myinvention is' 1..In a duplex envelope, means forming a plurality of compartments, including a relatively small compartment onthe address side of the envelope, within the area of the larger compartment, with a flap for. closing the larger compartment, and means including a flap co-operating with said first mentioned flap to prevent the contents of the smaller compartment from. falling out, said first mentioned flap being integral with the front wall of the larger compartment and having a slot therein, said last mentioned flap being adapted to be inserted through said slot, whereby the-flap of the larger compartment serves to hold the flap of the smaller compartment in position to afford access to either compartment.

2. In aduplex envelope, means forming a plurality of compartments, including a relatively small compartment on the address side of the envelope, within the area of the larger'compartment, with a fiap for closingv the larger compartment, and means include ing' a flap co-operating with said first men- .tioned flap to prevent the contents of the 3. A duplex envelope having a plurality I of compartments, with a fiap'for each compartnrent, and having a slot in one flap to receive the flap of another compartment, the flap for insertion in said slot being gummed and adapted to be pasted upon the outer surface of the other flap, whereby the two flaps may be fastened together to seal one compartment or may be merely interlocked to accessibly close either compartment, the flap having the slot being gummed to non-accessibly close its compartment, if such is desired, leaving the compartment of the other, flap either accessibly or non-accessibly closed.

4. In a duplex envelope, a seamless front wall for a relatively large compartment, a suitable back wall for said larger compartment, a seamless front wall for the relatively small compartment, disposed on the seamless front wall of the larger compartment, a flap integral with the seamless front wall for the larger compartment and sealed against the outer surface of said back wall, a loose flap integral with the seamless front wall of the larger compartment, and a loose flap integral with the front wall of the smaller compartment, these two loose flaps both folding backward at one end of the envelope, said I loose flap of the smaller compartment being small compartment disposed on the seamless front wall of the larger Compartment, a flap integral with the seamless front wall for the larger compartment and sealed against the outer surface of said back wall, a loose flap integral with the seamless front wall of the larger compartment, and a loose flap integral with the front Wall of the smaller compartment, these two loose flaps both folding backward at one end of the envelope, one

' loose flap having a slot to receive the other loose flap, whereby the two flaps may be Bil the front or face of the main envelope to indicate the duplex character of the envelope structure as a whole.

7. A duplex envelope structure as specifled in claim 4, one of said compartments being smaller than the other, and the front wall .of this smaller compartment being of a different shade or color to differentiate it from the front or face of the main envelope, thereby to indicate the duplex character of the euvelopestructure as a whole.

- 8. Aduplex envelope structure as specified'in claim 5, the front wall of said smaller compartment being differently shaded or colored to differentiate it from the front or face of the main envelope, thereby to indicate the duplex character 'of the envelope structure as a whole.

enemies F. ELMORE. 

